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#J- GUSTAV ADOLPH NEUMEYER, OF ALTENBURG, SAXE-ALTENBURG, ASSIGNOR TO HIM- SELF AND AUGUST KLEIN, OF LEIPZIG, GERMANY.

Letters Patent No. 81,670, dated September 1, 1868 mtteolateel Auyust 25, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFAGTURBOP GUNPOWDER AND BLASTING-POWDER.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV AnoLPu Nnnzunrnn, of Altenburg, in the Duchy of saxe-Altenburg, Germany, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Manufacture of'Powder for Fire-Arms and for Blasting Purposes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art tonnderstand and make the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in the manufacture of powder for fire-arms, and for blasting purposes, producing an. explosive powder more powerful than the ordinary powder now in use, and possessing other advantages, hereinafter stated. ,The present invention is an improvement on the-method of manufacture for which a patent (No. 66,378) was granted, dated July 2, 1867, and consists in employing the same ingredients-saltpetre, sulphur, and ca rhonas.in the ordinary manufacture of powder, and in variable proportions, but differs in regard to the materials in these respects, to wit:

First. Instead of using the sulphur in sticks, as in the-manufacture of the ordinary powder, I use the flowers of sulphur, (Sulphur olepuratum sublimatum)''a very important alteration.

Second. In the manufacture ofthe gunpowder, I use brown'eoal instead of charcoal, and for some kinds, brown coal and charcoal both together. The.use of brown coal is a new and amost essential alteration. It was not until Imade this discovery that I succeeded in mannfacturinga gunpowder exhibiting the'desired properties, as hereinafter described. The greater cheapness of this material I consider an additional advantage.

Third. In the manufacture of the blasting-powder, I use brown coal and charcoal both together. I use charcoal of any kind of wood, as pine, birch, .cedar, &c without any choice. The charcoal is burnt out of freshly-cut wood, not out of dried wood kept for years for. that purpose, as in the manufacture of the ordinary powder. v

My present improvement further consists in the mode of combining the ingredients-more intiinately and rapidly than by the old methods.

For making blasting-powder, I proceed asfollows, to wit:

The ingredientssaltpetre,'sulphur, brown coal and charcoal, in various proportions, according to the required strengthare mixed, in a dry state, for five minutes. Themass is then placed on an iron dish, upon which two cast-iron cylinders rev'olve. To every one hundred (100) 'pounds of ingredients, fourteen (14) pounds of water are added, and the mass mixed in this manner for one hour and a half. his then grained, and spread out for drying, and when dried is ready for use. I

The ingredientssaltpetre, sulphur, and brown coal, or brown coal and charcoal-are mixed two hours and a half, in the same manner as the blasting-powder, and then grained and dried.

The graining process is as follows:

When the powder has been sufiiciently incorporated under the rollers, it is placed in sieves, and on top of the powder'is placed a piece of hard wood. The sieves are shaken, and the powder falls through. It is then placed in a drum, in which it is turned one hour and a half, after which it is taken out and dried. If it is v desired to glaze it, one-half pound of graphite to every hundred pounds of powder is placed in a drum, and it- I, is again turned for an hour and a half.

My improved powder does not explode when air has access to it, but simply burns out like dump powder. When confined in a gun, however, or in any air-tight vesseh it explodes with the same or even greater force than the powder now used. It requires more heat to ignite it than the ordinary powder, and it is difficult to light it from sparks from steel orjflint, and it cannot be ignited by friction, or by blows, and is therefore free a from all danger in transportation.

The powder leaves less residuiim when excluded from the air-when exploded in a gun or blast-hole, fior I instance-Allan the ordinary powder.

The recoil in gun's is also much less, and, as its. action is more gradual, there ismuch less strain on heavy ordnance, and also less danger of the guns bursting.

My improved powder retains its strength after being wet and redried. It absorbsless moisture, and will keep longer. 7

It makes less smoke than ordinary powder, and the smoke is lighter-a property of great importance in the mines.

My improved powder can be manufactured, by the methods aforesaid, with complete safety to the operators and to the neighborhood where it is made.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent An explosive powder, for blasting and for fire-arms, when made of the ingredients and in the manner and proportions herein set forth.

The above specification of my invention signed by me, this 19th day of October, 1867, at Leipzig, Kingdom of Saxony.

GUSTAV ADOLPH NEUMEYER. [11. 5.]

Witnesses FRANZ KERST, FRANZ DETRIGHER. 

